The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-25
A VICIOUS ASSAULT.
, Man Cuts His Wife's Throat
With a Razor.
,gF FIEND LODGED IN JAIL.
Fit Of Drunken Rage John Melvin
Attempts to Take the Life
of His Wife,

bbont three years ago John Melvin
ID his wife came to this city from
c,otlsnd and the lady was engaged by
NJ I Hill as housekeeper, while
TaIvin was employed to look after the
nIoce These arrangements were con-
ti1neduntiI yesterday about noon, the
1.5v performing her work well and the
man doing very well except for an
occasional spree. 1t seems that Melvin
had for several days been on one OF his
tears having a general good time. his
wife was opposed to his drinking, and
yesterday morning upon going to
one of the outbuildings she discovered
bottle of whiskey which her hus-
hand had hidden, and broke 1t.
Soon afteryard Melvin discovered the
ioss and went into the house and
tGreatened to kill her. She took no
notice of the threat, however, and went
sbont her regular work, thinking
nothing more of the matter.
About II o'clock, however, Melvin
asDeared on the scene, this time with q
razor in his hand, and he at once set
about carrying his threat into execu-
ton. He cut frightful cash in the
d lsdy's throat, and it seems a struggle
ensued in which the woman grasped the
razor in her hands, and finally sue
ceeded in breaking away from the
ruffian grasp of her husband, and run
ming out of the house and down the
street to a neighbours.
The two we're alone in the house at
the time OF the occurrence, but soon
afterwards the baker called to deliver
bread and Melvin told him what he had
done. The baker, Mr.. julius Kiesel,
would not at first believe him, but upon
being shown the bloody razor and other
evidences, took it for granted that the
affair had actually occurred. Marshal
Ballantyne was notified and immedi-
ate!y went to the scene OF the tragedy
where he found Melvin standing
with his hands in his pockets, the doors
being locked. An entrance was effected
and Melvin placed under arrest and
lodged in the city jail,
When Mrs. Melvin broke loose from
her husband she ran to the house of
Mrs. Mcclure, the blood streaming
from the wound in her throat and
from cuts on her hands. She was rem
dered every possible assistance and
later in the day was removed to her
home where she was resting very COM
'srtably at last accounts. The wounds
inflicted were not so serious as one
would expect from the nature of the
attack.
Mr.. Fred Shields was the person who
notified the marshal of the affair and
Melvin swore that he would kill him if
eTer he got to see him.
Melvin is man apparently about 35
years Of age, of rather slender build and
wearing heavy red moustache and a
Stubby beard of about a week growth,
de speaks with broad Scotch accent.
10 a HERALD reporter who tried to
interview him while in the Jail
he said she would say nothing
ABOUT the cause of the trouble.
he reiterated, however, that he
would kill Shields on sight; but
T TT converse only in nonosyllables. |
Naen asked il he intended 10 kill his
s"e ne SAID q man don't generally go
~ slyil, With razor unless he intends !
W T T4iSh his Job does he?
~, W uIe LIB HERALD man was at the |
~ ny !au Rev Unsworth paid the
bS ;r, .lI brief visit and admonished |
NJ 49,. % r gave drink alone and to lead
S SSi'eI ne He seemed to feel trif1e |
b,' ;nsl curing the visit of the divine;
tSa ;;.llH5llealately after he left asked |
6-,7i.. 1 ~. to give him something to
ri, IN a. even even if only one glass.
for the o,--y reason that can be assigned |
r7sp '-;S a,5IOclouS act is the one before /
vST -,'5Il Is4 drunken madness. The
i. y~'a On the womans neck extends
S ,y, I- .ue SIDE around to the wind pine
'-e.ugllar vein. Ne'p - e'ei